Device for agitating, swirling and aerating the water in a vessel, such as a bath tub or the like



Dec. 20, 1966 F c AsCo A '3,292,615

DEVICE FOR AGITATING, SWIRLING AND AERATING THE WATER IN -A VESSEL, SUCH AS A BATH TUB OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. J.

INVENTORS 34 34 Frank' C,`Bascomb 70 By and Ema Mayen v ai F. c. BASCOMB ETAL 3,292,615

Dec. 20, 1966 DEVICE FOR AGITATING, SWIRLING AND AERATING THE WATER IN A VESSEL, SUCH AS A BATH TUB OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,292,615 i i i i i DEVICE FOR AGITATING, SWIRLING AND AERATING THE WATER IN A VESSEL, SUCH AS A BATHTUBOR THE LIKE i 4 Frank C. Bascomh and EmaMayer, Chicago, 111., as-

signors to Bolevard Electronics, Inc'., Chicago, III., a Corporation of Illnos Filed Dec. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 333,525 6 Claims. (Cl. 128-66) This invention relates to a device -for agitating, swirling, and aerating the water in a vessel; such as a bath tub or the like. p

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device which is of a portable nature and, which may be readily positioned on' a bath tub or like vessel for agitating and aerating the water, in the bath tub, and wheren the electrica lly operated means for Operating the agitating means are disposed exteriorly of the bath tub so that at no time is the electrically operated means or any of the electrical connections associated with the water.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for swirling and aerating the water in a vessel, such a-s a bath tub or the like, in which the electrical operated means for Operating the device is disposcd exteriorly of the bath tub to elirninate the possibility of any water coming into contact with the electricad Components. The device is very portable and may be readily postioned on a bath tub and may be readily removed therefrom when not in use.

Another object of this invention` is to provide `a device which will provide swirling, bubbling and' aerated water in the bath tub, which device is electrically operated but in which the eltctrical Components are positioned exteriorly of the water and remote from the water, to provide a unit which is safe and in which all hazards attendant the use of electricadly -operated means which are associated with Water are completely eliminated.

There are devices on the market which serve to agitate and aerate water, however, the electrical components are positioned in or in close proximity to the water and therefore present a serious hazard which could be fatal to the bather since the device is operated from the conventional electrical power source. The present invention eliminates this hazard by postioning the electrically operated means in a remote position exteriorly of the bath tub.

This device moves the water in the bath tub through the device, aerates it and dischargcs :it in the bath tub, thereby producing water filled with bubblesand causing a swirling movement of the water, which is very relaxing and provides certain health benefits to the bather.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a View showing the device forming this invention positi-oned in operative position on a bath tub.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longit-udinal cross-sectional View of the device forming this invention.

FIG. 3 is a View taken on lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end view taken on lines 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken on lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 -is a sectional View taken on lines 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional View taken on lines 7-7 of FIG.

3, and

FIG. 8 is a view taken on lines 8-8 of FIG. 7.

The device which is generally designated bythe numeral 10 is so constructed that it s portable and adapted tobe positioned in relation to 'the bath tub -so that the electrical Component which is the electric motor is positioned outside of the tub so that at no time is there any danger of Shock or injury to the user of the device. The aerating and water agtating member is positioned in the bath tubythe only connection to the source of power is a belt which transmits the power from the electric motor. The aerating and agitating device istherefore not electrically connected to the motor :and any water which is in contact with the aerating and agitating device could not short circuit or afiect the electric motor.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the device includes a vertically extending housing member generally indicated by the numeral 12 connected at the top. thereof to a horizontally extending housing 14 which extends laterally of the top of housing 12 and then continues downwardly to form a short housing section 16, with the Operating parts to be ,described supported in the housings. The device is positioned on a bath tub, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that the vertical housing 12 and the parts therein are positioned exteriorly of the tub, with the horizontally extending housing 14 overhanging and adapted to rest on the top of the tub, with the inwardly extending housing section 16 exten'ding into the tub. t

The exterior housing 12 is provided with louvered sides 18 for heat dissipation and for crculating the air. suitably supported inside said housing -is an electrically operated motor 20 which is supported by means of a clamp 22 with an insulating rin-g 24. The clamp 22 is suitably Secured tothe housing. 4

The motor shaft 26 has Secured to it a sheave or pulley 28 which is a lined with the interior of the laterally extending housing 14. A switch member 30 is operated by means of a knob 32 which extends upwardly of the top of the housing. The motor is connected to an electric cord 34 which has a ground plug 34' and which is plugged int-o a conventional electric outlet for Operating the motor. Operating the knob 32 will operate the switch 30 for Operating the motor to on and off positions.

The impeller and aerating means is supported in spaced relation to the electric motor and is driven by said motor. The impeller and aerating means will now be described. p

The housing section 16 extends below the top of the wall 35 of the bath tub and partial ly into the tu'b. When the device is positioned on the wall of the :bath tub, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 12 is positioned adjacent the exterior wall of the t-ub; the electric motor thus being positioned exteriorly of the tub. The section 16 will be positioned adjacent the insidewall of the tub, with the horizontally extendin g housing 14 resting on the top of the wall of the tu'b. p

suitably supported within the housing section 16 is a vinyl clad chassis generally indicated at 36 which supports in spaced relation an upper clamp 38 and a lower clamp 40, each provided with a suitabletension ring. The clamp members 38 and 40 engageand support a tubnlar housing 42 which extends below the housing section 16.

Supported within the housing cover 42 is a cylndrical-shaped 'hearing housing generally designated by the numeral 44. The hearing housing 44 is` provided with an enlarged upper end 46 to accom-modate a ball bearing unit 47, and also with an outwardly extending flange or shoulder 48 whereby it is adapted to rest on the upper clamp' 38. It will be noted that the tension ring is provided between the clamp and the bearing housing so that in eifect the shoulder 48 rests on the tension ring. The lower end of the hearing housing 44 terminates flush with the lower end of the housing cover 42. The lower end has an enlarged diameter toreceive and suitably support a ball bearng unit 50. The lower end of the hearing housing 44 also receives the upwardly extending tubular portion 52 of the volute or impeller casng generally indicated at 54 which is firmly secured thereto.

The volute member or housing 54 is of generally circular configuration and is provided with a centrally positioned inlet duct 56 and an outlet duct 58 positioned to one side thereof and in a lower plane. :An air inlet tube 60 is Secured to the volute or housing 54 and commnnicates with the interior thereof. The upper open end of the air inlet tube is closed by an air regulator, generally indicated at 61, which has spaced inner and outer annular walls 62 and 63 in frictional engagement with the air inlet tube 60. The inner wall 62 of the regulator has spaced slots 64 adapted to 'be positioned in relation to the spaced air inlet openings 66 of the inlet tube 60 to regulate and control the amount of air enterng the air inlet tube.

Rotatably supported within the volute or housing 54 is an impeller member generally indicated at 68 provided with impeller blades 69 and an upwardly extending hub 70 provided with a central bore 72 adapted to receive and be coupled to the lower end of a shaft 74. The shaft 74 is rotatably supported in upper and lower 'bearings 47 and 50 and is positioned in the hearing housing 44. T-he shaft 74 extends upwardly of the top of the 'hearing housing and has fixedly Secured to it a sheave or pulley 76 which is operably connected to the motor sheave or pulley 28 by means of a belt 78 for the purpose of driving the shaft 74 and the impeller thereon. The hub 70 of the mpeller is provided with a shoulder 80 on which a ring member 81 is .positioned. A rotary seal 82 is positioned between the hub 70 of the impeller and the tu-bular housing 42. A helical spring 82 is positioned between said seal and said ring for the purpose of maintaining the rotary sea-1 82 in position.

The volute or housings 54 is positioned in the water in ,the bath tub, adjacent the bottom of the tub. Rotation of the shaft 74 when driven `by the motor 20 through the belt 78 will rotate the impeller blades 69 and cause the water in the tub to be drawn into the inlet duct 56 and to be discharged through the outlet` duct 58. 4 Air is introduced through the air tube 60 into the water while the water is within the volute or housing 54 so that when the water is discharged it is aerated. The continuous flow of water in and through the impeller and aerating member will result in aeration of the water in the bath tub and in agitating it so that there is a swirling motion of the water in the tub. The water will also be filled with bubbles. The volute member or housing 54 may be rotated manually so that the intake and outlet ducts 56 and 58 thereof are positioned at any desired position in the tub so that the direction of the discharge of the water from the device into the tub is controlled.

The inlet duct 56 is provided With a flow regulator which is best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The flow regu lator generally indicated at 84 is positioned in the inlet duct. The top wall of the duct is provided with a circular opening 86 which receives the neck 87 of the flow regulator. A vane 88 extends into the duct 56; said vane is rotated 'by the knob 89. Rotation of the knob to the dotted line position shown in. FIG. 7 will obstruet to a limited extent the flow of water entering the inlet 'duct, however, water can pass between the sides of the vane and the duct. Rotation of the vane so that it is parallel with the sides will permit the greatest flow of water to enter the duct. Thus, the duct controls and regulates the entrance or flow of water into the duct.

The top of the casing is provided with a handle 90 so that it may be carried. The device is portable and may be readily set on the outer wall of a 'bath tub and placed in Operating condition in a minimum of time and with very little effort. The central or horizontally extending housing 14 is rectangular in cross-section so that the bottom thereof can seat on the top of the bath tub wall. A rubber or resilient pad may be Secured to the unders ide of the bottom of the horizontally extending housing 14 so that the bath tub wall is protected from markings. It also cushions the device.

An adjustable bracing rod 92 is Secured to the side wall of the housing member 12 and said rod is exteriorly threaded to engage an internally threaded sleeve (not shown) in a wall opening in the side wall of hous- 'ing 12, whereby rotation of the rod 92 will move same axially into the housing or outwardly thereof so that the rubber pad member 93 on the rod 92 will engage the side wall 35 of the bath tub to brace and support the device firmly in Secured position on the -bath tub wall, as shown in FIG. 2.

In operation the device is placed in the bath tub, preferably adjacent the faucet end so that the bather's feet would be adjacent the unit. The portion of the unit which extends into the bath tub does not occupy much space'and therefore does not reduce the area of the tub as it would be placed where the legs would normally be positioned. When the device is in operation the water is caused to circulate through the volute member and it is aerated and agitated at the same time, thus, aerating and agitating the water in the tub and producing a soothing turbulent elfec't which has certain health advantages and is very relaxing.

The electric motor, which is the only electrical component used, is positioned exteriorly of the bath tub and is isolated and insulated from any contact with the water or any other parts and therefore all hazards due to shorting are completely eliminated. The agitating means in the water is not electrically connected to the motor. The safety of the device is an important feature of this invention.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for agitating and swirling the water in a bathtub, said device comprising a housing having a central portion and oppositely extending housing portions with one of said oppositely extending housing portions being the exterior housing portion and the other the interior housing portion, said central housing portion having an undersurface whereby the undersurface of the central` portion is adapted to be positioned to rest on the top ledge surface of one of the bathtub walls so that said device is thereby adapted to be wholly and entirely supported on said bathtub wall without resting on any floor for support, `wth the exterior housing portion adapted to be 'positioned outside of the bathtub and adjacent the exterior side of the bathtub wall and the interior housing portion adapted to be positioned inside the bathtub and adjacent the interior side of the bathtub wall, said exterior housing portion and said interior housing portion extending parallel to each other and in the same direction away from the` central housing portion and rigidly connected thereto and each being' perpendcular to said central housing portion, i

said central housing portion being of`a width so that it `can be a'ccommodated on a bathtub wall of any thickness, an electrically operated motor positioned in said exterior housing portion and isolated from the. water in i the bathtub, said exterior housing portion shrouding said motor, a pump supported by said device in alinement with said interior housing and adapted to extend into the bathtub, means connecting said electrically operated motor i portion, said device having means adapted to engage the exterior and interior sides of the bathtub wall so that said device when resting on the top ledge surface of the bath tub wall engages the bathtub wall along the top ledge surface and exterior and interior sides of the bathtub wall to firmly support said device while in operation.

2. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the means for engaging the exteror side of the bathtub 'Wall are adjustable.

3. A structure defined in claim 2 in which the adjustable means are positioned adjacent the bottom of the exterior housing portion and said means extend inwardly from the exterior housing portion toward the exterior side of the bathtub wall.

4. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the device is portable and may be readily removed from the bathtub wall and in which the undersu'face of the central portion is substantially flat.

5. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the bottom of the exteror housing portion and the bottom of the pump are substantially on the same horizontal plane.

6. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the exterior housing portion supports adjustable means for engaging the exterior side of the bathtub and in which the parts extending exteriorly of the bathtub are heavier than the parts extendng inside the bathtub thereby applying a downward pressure through the adjustable means against the exterior of the bathtub, said adjustable means being adjusted so the device rests on the top ledge surface of the bathtub wall in a horizontal position, thus accommodating bathtub walls of varying thickness and without actually clamping or fastening to the bathtub wall, the weight of the device on the outside of the bathtub preventing the device from falling inward into the bathtub.

References Cited by the Examier UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,187,746 1/ 1940 Lefevre.

2,272,585 2/ 1942 Rocke 128-66 X 2,376,722 5/ 1945 Podell 68--132 2,559,678 7/1951 Schroeter 128-66 2,782,425 2/ 1957 Schroeter 4-178 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Pr'mary Examiner.

L. W. TRAPP, Assistant Exam'ner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR AGITATING AND SWIRLING THE WATER IN A BATHTUB, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION AND OPPOSITELY EXTENDING HOUSING PORTIONS WITH ONE OF SAID OPPOSITELY EXTENDING HOUSING PORTIONS BEING THE EXTERIOR HOUSING PORTION AND THE OTHER THE INTERIOR HOUSING PORTION, SAID CENTRAL HOUSING PORTION HAVING AN UNDERSURFACE WHEREBY THE UNDERSURFACE OF THE CENTRAL PORTION IS ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED TO REST ON THE TOP LEDGE SURFACE OF ONE OF THE BATHTUB WALLS SO THAT SAID DEVICE IS THEREBY ADAPTED TO BE WHOOLY AND ENTIRELY SUPPORTED ON SAID BATHTUB WALL WITHOUT RESTING ON ANY FLOOR FOR SUPPORT, WITH THE EXTERIOR HOUSING PORTION ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED OUTSIDE OF THE BATHTUB AND ADJACENT THE EXTERIOR SIDE OF THE BATHTUB WALL AND THE INTERIOR HOUSING PORTION ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED INSIDE THE BATHTUB AND ADJACENT THE INTERIOR SIDE OF THE BATHTUB WALL, SAID EXTERIOR HOUSING PORTION AND SAID INTERIOR HOUSING PORTION EXTENDING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND IN THE SAME DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE CENTRAL HOUSING PORTION AND RIGIDLY CONNECTED THERETO, AND EACH BEING PERPENDICULAR TO SAID CENTRAL HOUSING PORTION, SAID CENTRAL HOUSING PORTION BEING OF A WIDTH SO THAT IT CAN BE ACCOMMODATED ON A BATHTUB WALL OF ANY THICKNESS, AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MOTOR POSITIONED IN SAID EXTERIOR HOUSING PORTION AND ISOLATED FROM THE WATER IN THE BATHTUB, SAID EXTERIOR HOUSING PORTION SHROUDING SAID MOTOR, A PUMP SUPPORTED BY SAID DEVICE IN ALINEMENT WITH SAID INTERIOR HOUSING ADAPTED TO EXTEND INTO THE BATHTUB, MEANS CONNECTED SAID ELECTRICALLY OPERATED MOTOR AND SAID PUMP TO OPERATE SAID PUMP FOR AGITATING THE WATER WITHIN THE BATHTUB, SAID LAST MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING A MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH THE CENTRAL HOUSING PORTION, SAID DEVICE HAVING MEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR SIDES OF THE BATHTUB WALL SO THAT SAID DEVICE WHEN RESTING ON THE TOP LEDGE SURFACE OF THE BATHTUB WALL ENGAGES THE BATHTUB WALL ALONG THE TOP LEDGE SURFACE AND EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR SIDES OF THE BATHTUB WALL TO FIRMLY SUPPORT SAID DEVICE WHILE IN OPERATION. 